The Ill-Made Mute

Sometimes when a book gets a lot of very good reviews, your expectations get so high that you are disappointed when you finally get to read it. This was not the case when I read The Ill-Made Mute. It exceeded my expectations.I have read a lot of fantasy and never have I come across a writer who can create a whole nother world with so much detail, as well as a complicated plot, believeable characters and a style that blew me away. It's kind of hard to review a book when it's the first of three, and you know the story is far from complete. I get the feeling there are a lot of questions raised in this book which the author has deliberately left unanswered until the next two, so I don't want to make any assumptions about the plot. I can only say, I'm hanging out for the sequels. I've had a long thirst for a real Tolkien-style story and this book slaked it.

It is so refreshing to read a story that does not hammer along at a fast Gameboy-style pace on the premise that the reader's attention span is too short to be otherwise held. This story moves along in a manner suited to the historical feel of the setting. I also enjoyed the use of words outside the usual vocabulary we get on TV and in popular literature. At last, a fantasy author who treats readers like intelligent people! The inclusion of British folklore is another refreshing change. Instead of the usual (now boring) weapons, slayings, etc. we are shown a myriad other, more subtle ways to deal with supernatural forces. Never does the author fall for the trap of many fantasy authors, which is to make mention of Fate or Prophecy as the reason why events occur. I felt confident that there were good reasons behind every character's behaviour. Whether those reasons are made clear in this book or in the follow-up Book 2, remains to be seen. I liked the ending because it did not tell us whether the heroine's face was beautiful or not. It hinted at beauty, but while reading this book I learned that the author often has a "twist" up her sleeve, so readers should not necessarily take hints as facts.I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read something that is far removed from the usual "modern action adventure in medieval costume" style. The language is beautiful, the imagery is extraordinary, the characters are real, and (thank the gods) the story is not the same old Good versus Evil. It is original, amazing and totally addictive.

I have just finished reading "The Ill-Made Mute" and I can't wait to read the next one....it will be an agonising wait indeed. If you have not read this book, do so. Brilliant imagery and an engaging plot. A fascinating story. The best book I've read in long time.

THE ILL-MADE MUTE is worthy of something long and eloquent, but I fear I'll have to leave you with only a few modest observations. Firstly, the author's world is deftly wrought. It's atmosphere is so powerful that it permeates every page of her book, and I think that is why so many people are comparing it with Tolkien's work. Her characters are truly of their world, and just as skillfully constructed. Dart-Thornton sidesteps the over-used conventions and cliches of fantasy to bring something refreshingly new to the genre-- while tipping her cap to the myths, legends, and folklore that inspired her. Don't pass this one by!

I work at a bookstore, so I get the chance to discover authors and books that I normally wouldn't notice. I have never been more thankful for this than when I found this book. The beautiful writing appealed to the poet in me, at the same time completely engrossing me in a new and intriguing world. I highly recommend this book and am impatiently waiting for the sequal!